Investment Minister Ashraf Salman said the plan of the Suez Canal Development Axis project would be announced at the opening ceremony of the new channel, provided that the President would issue the Special Economic Zones Act, which will regulate investment in the axis, by Sunday or Monday.
Salman said the Investment Ministry is currently marketing the projects for the axis, seizing the opportunity of declining growth rates in other countries, such as the United States, China and European countries.
Sources at the Suez Canal Authority said the soft opening for ships to pass on an experimental basis would be on Saturday, as the dredging work would be completed on Friday, while the first complete convoy would formally pass on August 6.
Meanwhile, Abbas Kamel, director of the President’s office, has inspected the preparations for the opening ceremony, while the army and the Interior Ministry representatives have met to discuss th measures aimed at securing the city of Ismailia.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
